Silver Spring, MD - Adventist Risk Management, Inc. (ARM) has named two new Vice Presidents at its December 8, 2011, Board of Directors meeting. The appointments resulted from two pending retirements as well as the need to adjust assignments to meet the strategy for future development of programs planned for ARM and its affiliated entities including GENCON Insurance Company of Vermont (GENCON).
Steve Blackburn has been named Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Blackburn has been with ARM for the past five years serving in Quality Assurance and subsequently as a manager of the Field Services department. Prior to joining ARM, he served in financial leadership positions in the Church’s education programs. He also worked in the insurance industry as President of Telcom Insurance Group, a captive insurance in the telecommunications industry. He holds an MBA, CPA and has the designation of an Associate in Risk Management. In his new capacity Blackburn will be responsible for the overall financial strategy for ARM and its seven affiliated companies. Blackburn is a graduate of Washington Adventist University and The George Washington University.
Tim Northrop has been named Vice President for Sales and Client Services. Northrop joined ARM ten years ago and has held positions in Underwriting, Placement Services and Field Services. He is presently Manager of Placement Services responsible for placing insurance in domestic and international markets for the Church. Prior to joining ARM, Northrop, a graduate of Southwestern Adventist University, worked for Huguley Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Northrop has a degree in Business Administration as well as designations as an Associate in General Insurance and Associate in Risk Management. In his new position he will lead all sales efforts for ARM through its Field Services program as well as lead in the overall client services programs.
Retiring in early 2012 is Byron Scheuneman who has served as an officer of ARM for the past five years and forty years of service to the Church. Also retiring is Harry Janke, Chief Information Officer, will continue in this capacity on a part-time basis for part of 2012 before moving to full retirement. Janke retired from his career in technology management for Adventist Health in 2010 and has been assisting ARM on an interim basis in developing a technology strategy for the future.
With the changing climate of risk management and insurance in today’s economic climate, two additional refinements in the officer team have been made to align positions for future strategic needs. Arthur Blinci, who has served ARM for the past 25 years, has taken the challenge to head up an expanded risk management and loss prevention program for ARM as Vice President and Chief Risk Management Officer. Under the new program, ARM will build on its past programs of risk management but will expand them to address the growing needs of the Church both through enterprise wide risk management programs, as well as micro programs focused on assisting local churches and schools better anticipate and prevent losses in their activities. A full Child Protection plan program is being finalized which, under Blinci’s leadership, will launch for the Church in North America in early 2012.
Sharon Mabena has served ARM since 2003 in various capacities including heading accounting, insurance services and most recently as Chief Financial Officer. With the complexities of operating eight companies, the Board has asked Mabena to focus her work as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer for ARM and its affiliates. In addition, Mabena will serve as Secretary Treasurer and handle compliance matters for the companies that are registered in various countries and states. Mabena is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor. In her new capacity, she will be responsible for all accounting activities of the companies. She will also be in charge of audits and will give oversight to other activities related to ARM and GENCON in its Underwriting and Reinsurance programs.
“The changes being made will continue to provide a team of highly competent individuals to manage the activities for ARM into the future and allow an expanded vision for strategy in meeting the risk management and insurance needs of the Church,” said ARM president Bob Kyte. “The work of ARM and its affiliates can be very challenging as so much depends on unknowns such as catastrophic events. We see our ministry as protecting the other ministries of the Church so they can better fulfill their missions.”